Cover Story
Do your civic duty! Get honey! Stay healthy! Earn money!
Jeremy Rose isn’t entirely sure why he’s always been so fascinated by bees. He said he first got interested in the practice when a beekeeper removed a hive from a neighbor’s house. Or maybe it was the time in fourth grade when a swarm chased him and his friends off the playground. “I thought that…
It’s Curtains for PCPA
There’s been a murder at the Pacific Conservatory for the Performing Arts at Allan Hancock College! It occurred right before our eyes on the PCPA stage, as music and mayhem abounded in the comedy whodunnit and show-within-a-show, Curtains. Spoiler alert! This hilarious, entertaining show will slay you (all puns are intended) with perfect timing and…
If you could be any bug, what would you be?”
John Hills student “A preying mantis, because they are pretty cool, and their camouflage.” Thaddeus Jeckell health club manager “Ladybug. They’re so cute, and no one wants to go out of their way to smash one.” Adam Harkey seasonal firefighter “A dragonfly. You don’t see them too often around here, and they are unique.” Jonathon…
Community Notebook 04.22
MONDAY, APRIL 26 • The South County Advisory Council has its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the Nipomo Community Services District Headquarters, 148 S. Wilson St., Nipomo. TUESDAY, APRIL 27 • The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors has its regular meeting at 9 a.m. in the Betteravia Government Center’s Board of Supervisors…
Political Watch 04.22
The Santa Barbara County Deputy Sheriffs Association has endorsed Steve Lavagnino for Santa Barbara County 5th District Supervisor, the Santa Marian’s campaign announced earlier this month. The association represents more than 400 employees of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department and District Attorney’s Office. “In order for us to do our jobs effectively, we need…
Hobnobbing With Helen
Pretend you’re a contestant on Jeopardy. Alex Trebec says, “The funnest party in town!” Of course, you know what the answer is: “What is the Santa Maria Breakfast Rotary Club Annual Hawaiian Luau, Barn Party, and Auction?” To put it more simply, it’s the Rotary Barn Party. Many things make this event irresistible: the gaming…
Make sense of dollars
Being a material girl might have been cool in the ’80s, but on April 28, local certified public accountant Trent Benedetti will be holding a town hall meeting to tackle the ongoing problem of financial irresponsibility. He hopes to show how it’s better to be financially responsible. The meeting will be held at the Abel…
The county powers up
Just in time for Earth Day, Santa Barbara County is rolling out a new program intended to make it easier and cheaper for residents and business owners to retrofit their buildings for greener energy use. The program, EmPowerSBC, is designed to kick-start construction by providing up-front financing for county-approved projects. According to David Matson, director…
Where are they?
For the past three years, members of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department have being going undercover at various fairs, parades, and festivals to protect local families and their children from the potential threat of sex offenders. “We wander around in plain clothes and make sure the kids are safe,” said Sgt. Gregg Weitzman, a…
Correction
In the Sun’s April 15 cover story, “Octagon-athon,” the black belt ranking for Travis Christensen was misstated. Christensen holds a black belt in Keichu Do karate. Joshua Schwien holds a black belt in Taekwondo. News Briefs is compiled by Sun staffers from staff reporting and local and national media. Information should be sent to the…
Santa Barbara County supervisors seek community input on the next CEO
The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors wants to know what its residents look for in a county executive officer. The county’s top elected officials are currently soliciting participation in a short survey on the county’s website, countyofsb.org. The survey, generated through the professional consulting firm Ralph Andersen and Associates, asks participants to rank the…
County politicians will present their campaign platforms
North County residents: It’s your turn to meet the candidates for Santa Barbara County District Attorney and 5th District Supervisor. On April 29, the candidates for both seats will be presenting their views at a free forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of Santa Maria Valley from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the…
SLO County hospitals vie for trauma center designation
Let’s say a man has an accident while off-roading at the Oceano Dunes. He has a chest injury, an aortic disruption, and is bleeding internally. Paramedics arrive and quickly assess they have a trauma patient with multiple severe injuries. They load him into the ambulance, but instead of heading 3.5 miles down the road to…
The city of Santa Maria has a new fire chief
Santa Maria’s interim fire chief Jeff Jones recently got a promotion, according to an announcement from city officials. Starting April 24, he’ll be the city’s new fire chief. Jones was expected to be honored at a badge pinning ceremony during the City Council’s April 20 meeting. He’s been serving as the acting fire chief since…
Chamber lauds strawberry industry’s best
The Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce recognized the cream of the area’s strawberry crop during its 20th annual Strawberry Industry Recognition Dinner on April 14. Guillermo Maldonado of DB Specialty Farms won the award for best supervisor or manager for 2009. Central West Produce/G & S Farms took home honors for best sales association,…
Community Bank reports quarterly growth
Community Bank of Santa Maria released its first quarter earnings report for 2010, reporting an increase in total deposits, loans, and net profit. Community Bank CEO Jim Glines reported the bank’s total deposits were up 10.86 percent from the same period a year ago. Total deposits rose from $114,189,324 to $126,592,412 from the first quarter…
Coast Hills names new board
Coast Hills Federal Credit Union recently announced the results of the bank’s 2010 Board of Directors election at its annual meeting in Santa Maria. Chuck Scheithauer of Santa Maria, Shirleen Sladek of Santa Maria, and Pete Reed of Atascadero were re-elected to three-year terms. Hugh Rafferty of Santa Maria was re-elected to a one-year term.…
Marian receives STEMI designation
Santa Barbara County’s Emergency Medical Services Agency recently awarded Marian Medical Center with a STEMI Center designation, certifying the hospital is specially equipped to treat sudden heart attacks caused by coronary artery blockage. The title became effective on April 12. Requirements considered for STEMI designation included quick response time, licensure as a cardiac catheterization laboratory,…
Help make someone’s wish come true
Children in countries all over the world will be crossing their fingers on April 29 as part of World Wish Day. The month of April also marks the 30th anniversary of the wish that inspired the creation of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Since then, more than 240,000 kids around the globe have had their greatest wishes…
Dana Adobe Nipomo Amigos receive a national grant for historical restoration
History will soon be fully restored at the Dana Adobe in the Nipomo Mesa, thanks to an almost $331,000 grant from the California Cultural and Historical Endowment. The adobe was one of only 21 sites statewide to receive an award, according to an announcement from the Dana Adobe Nipomo Amigos. The money will be used…
Hear a song
C Gallery in Los Alamos will feature Kady Fleckenstein in its Sing To Me acoustic vocal concert on April 24 at 8 p.m. The show, titled This Is How Love Goes, will trace a relationship’s ebb and flow through opera, blues, and some beloved standards. Fleckenstein draws on covers by Crystal Gale, Eva Cassidy, a…
Student work comes to life
There will be a public performance—primarily for educators, teachers, and school administrators—of My Life = Art: PCPA in the Schools at 6:30 p.m. on April 27. The show is based on writing from Lompoc High School students, working with help from a PCPA artist in residence. The performance is free to the public, and is…
Look both ways for music
The Lompoc Concert Association will present “INTERSECTION” in concert on April 24 at 7:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 925 N. F St. in Lompoc. Violinist Laura Frautschi, cellist Kristina Reiko Cooper, and pianist John Novacek formed INTERSECTION in 1998. The group’s numerous recordings have been best-sellers in Asia and have topped the classical…
Have wicked good fun with The Kitchen Witches
I’ve never been a fan of reality-based television shows, so I thought seeing a play based on the premise of a “reality cooking show” would be a tricky assignment. But the tricks were ultimately played on me. Directed by Marian C. Stave, the award-winning French Canadian comedic play, The Kitchen Witches, proved to be a…
Send in your best answer
All this fuss about Sarah Palin’s speaking fees and demands raises an existential question: What is the point of CSU Stanislaus?
Get a hobby, Nell
“Noisy hoards of fossil fueled machines that speed down a public beach … .” First, I believe it was the safety of the children: Off-road vehicles were endangering children who were at the beach. Next, it was the number of people killed at the Dunes, one or two per year—people needed to be stopped from…
Closing dunes to riders would bring more revenue
I have lived on the Central Coast for more than 30 years and heard the arguments for and against the ATV riders on the dunes. What prompts me to write now is the ridiculous notion that if we finally close the dunes to these outsiders (Fresno/Central Valley rats) our towns would turn into ghost towns…
The Minuteman spirit is still alive
The death of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps is greatly exaggerated. The national organization, leaders, and founders, after years of fighting the federal and state governments’ neglect of the illegal immigration problem, are in the process of retiring the national corporation and passed the ball to the regional, state, and local Minuteman Civil Defense Corps…
Cuts: There’s no easy way out of this budget mess
The unfortunate truth is that the public employee unions now control the government at the state level and the county and city. The unions, of course, say they did not cause the deficits. That is true to a degree, because equally or even more so the culprits are the ones who authorized the huge pension…
Karen Hendrick
From the amount of time Karen Hendrick has spent in the pool—and from her family history of swimming—one might suspect that she’s been hiding fins and gills under her swimsuit. Hendrick started swimming at the age of 5, due to her mom’s insistence. However, it was her older sister who sparked Karen’s interest in swimming…
It keeps you running
It’s early on a Thursday morning, and 67-year-old Tess Blake has worked up a sweat before most people half her age have even had their first cup of coffee. Blake is one of about 15 senior citizens who regularly take part in a strength training class designed to prevent osteoporosis at the Elwin Mussell Senior…
See you at the track
The City of Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department, Santa Maria Valley YMCA, and the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Maria are gearing up to host the annual Hershey’s Track and Field Games on May 15. Boys and girls ages 9 to 14 can compete in several running and field events with top performers…
Make ’em laugh
Seniors will have the opportunity to put the phrase “laughter is the best medicine” to the test for free starting May 20. The Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department is offering Laughter Yoga, an unconditional aerobic laughter exercise and complete well-being workout designed to relieve stress and strengthen the immune system. The class isn’t a…
Harlem Wizards hit town for a spell
The Harlem Wizards are coming to Allan Hancock College for a night of tricks, hoops, and alley-oops on April 23. Carrying a winning streak of 3,000 games, the Wizards hit the court at 7:30 p.m. against Cops 4 Kids, a team of local law enforcement officers. Presale tickets cost $10 for children and $12 for…
Clubs & Meetings
4-H welcomes anyone interested in the group to sign up now. Find a nearby club by contacting the Santa Barbara County 4-H Office at 692-1730 or zmhughes@ucdavis.edu. ADULT CHILDREN OF ALCOHOLICS for men meets in San Luis Obispo and Grover Beach. Men interested in attending may contact representatives: 550-6718 or not_moses@fastmail.fm. ALL-AMERICAN QUILTERS’ GUILD meets…
Spiritual
BAHA’I interfaith worship services are the second Sunday of each month. Info: 489-4172. Children’s classes are the first Saturday of each month. Info: 937-9451. Study circles about The Life of the Spirit are ongoing in Santa Maria. For questions, dates, and times: 614-0963. Info: 937-9451. BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH holds worship services Sundays with Holy Communion…
Farmers Market
SANTA MARIA 100 S. Broadway at Main, Wednesdays, from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Features local beekeepers’ honey and bee pollen, breads and pastries, plants and flower bouquets, fresh fruits and vegetables. ORCUTT Corner of Clark and Bradley, Tuesdays, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fresh honey, flowers, and eggs, along with fresh fruits and…
Barbecues
ONGOING FILIPINO COMMUNITY OF SANTA MARIA VALLEY barbecues Filipino food at the Smart and Final parking lot, N. Broadway on Saturdays and Sundays. Menu items include tri-tip, chicken, beef kabobs, chicken adobo, salad, rice, and bread. Meals cost $6. Info: 922-3422 or 922-3799. FILIPINO CATHOLIC SOCIETY, under the direction of St. Mary’s Church and St.…
Health
MARIAN MEDICAL CENTER offers a “Smart Eating for Kids and Teens” class meeting the first Monday of each month this year from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Medical Center at 1400 E. Church St., Santa Maria. Info: 739-3578. ONGOING SYCAMORE MINERAL SPRINGS HEALING ARTS INSTITUTE offers a range of classes including yoga and meditation,…
Art
CYPRESS GALLERY presents the art show “For the Love of Color and Wood” by Art and Bobbie Kusulas April 27 through May 23 at 119 East Cypress Ave., Lompoc. An opening reception is May 7 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the gallery. Info: 736-0489 or abkazoo@aol.com. THE SANTA MARIA PUBLIC LIBRARY presents the exhibit…
Learning
ALLAN HANCOCK COLLEGE presents a Medical Assisting Career Workshop on April 22 from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Santa Maria Campus Forum, 800 S. College, Santa Maria. Info: 922-6966, Ext. 3384. THE CENTER FOR HOLISTIC LIVING presents Use Humor to Deal with Stress, a video followed by a potluck on April 24 at 10…
Recreation
THE SANTA MARIA VALLEY YMCA presents its annual Tri-For-Fun triathlon on April 24 with registration currently open at the YMCA, 3400 Skyway Drive, Santa Maria. Info: 937-8521. WORTH THE DRIVE THE LIONS SUNRISERS CLUB presents the Lions District Fishing Tournament on April 24 from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lake Cachuma off of Highway…
Kids & Family
THE SANTA MARIA VALLEY YMCA presents swim lessons for kids 3 years and older Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. through May 1 at the Santa Maria Valley YMCA, 3400 Skyway Drive, Santa Maria. Info: 937-8521 or smvymca.org. ADVENTURES IN LEARNING PRESCHOOL hosts a free “Story and Sing-A-Long Hour” the first Monday of the month from 10…
Dance Lessons
ONGOING BLUE MOON HAVEN BELLY DANCE currently teaches American Tribal Style dance classes on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays in Lompoc and Thursdays in Grover Beach. Info: 709-4686 or BlueMoonHaven.com. COUNTRY WESTERN DANCE CLASSES by Jeannette and Henry are Tuesdays from 7 to 8 p.m. for country two-step lessons and from 8 to 9 p.m. for…
Stage
ALLAN HANCOCK COLLEGE YOUTH DANCE presents its annual Magical Moments concert featuring productions of Beauty and the Beast and Pocahontas April 23, 24, and 25 in the Severson Theatre, Allan Hancock College, 800 S. College, Santa Maria. Cost is $10, $8 for students, children, and seniors. Info: 922-8313. KITCHEN WITCHES is a comedic dinner theater…
Night Life
The following venues offer either regularly scheduled live entertainment or DJ-hosted dance music. Most performances start after 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. IN THE AREA ADDAMO VINEYARD/TASTING ROOM: 400 E. Clark Ave., suite E, Santa Maria, 937-6400. Live music Sundays from 2 to 5 p.m. CLUB 805, AKA STINKY’S BAR & GRILL: 2430 South Broadway,…
Concerts
NATALIA KARTASHOVA performs the piano works of Liszt, Haydn, Bach, and Muczynsksi in concert on April 24 at 3 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 311 South Broadway, Santa Maria. Info: 543-2261. THE SANTA MARIA PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY presents a concert featuring Cimarosa, Mozart, and Haydn on April 24 at 7:30 p.m. at Grace Baptist Church,…
Special Events
ALLAN HANCOCK COLLEGE presents the 10th annual “Salute to the Arts” mixer event featuring art displays, live music, and refreshments on April 22 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the college’s Lompoc Valley Center, Lompoc. Info: 735-3366, Ext. 5215, or hancockcollege.edu. THE CABRILLO HIGH SCHOOL AQUARIUM opens to the public to unveil its new mural…
Uncork your creativity
Operating something far more complex than a simple storefront and tasting bar, Bion Rice, director of winemaking at Artiste Winery, showcases his craft amid the happy activity of artistic pursuits. He believes that blending wine and putting brush to canvas involve similar creative impulses, and celebrates all manner of expression in his innovative tasting room.…
